Tymoshenko refuses to concede election defeat

OPPOSITION leader Viktor Yanukovych emerged as the apparent winner in Ukraine’s presidential contest yesterday, holding onto a lead of almost 3% with about 99% of ballots counted.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has accused her opponent of election fraud, was under pressure to concede after international vote monitors yesterday called the ballot “professional, transparent and honest.”

A Yanukovych victory would close a chapter in the country’s political history by ousting the pro-Western leadership of the past five years, which foundered due to internal divisions, fierce opposition from Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine and the collapse of the economy.

As Ukraine’s president, Yanukovych would try to balance relations with Moscow against Europe, tilting to Russia where his Orange Revolution predecessors tilted West. But his narrow mandate, Ukraine’s deeply divided society and moribund economy will limit his ability to implement desperately needed political reforms.

Some Ukrainians fear Yanukovych could bring a retreat from Western democratic reforms and muzzle the media and opposition parties.

The Central Election Commission data showed Yanukovych garnering 48.7% to Tymoshenko’s 45.7%, with 1% of ballots remaining to be counted.

More than 4% of voters cast ballots marked “against all”.

Yanukovych has claimed victory and his team kicked off festivities by calling on the prime minister to admit defeat. “She should remember her own democratic slogans and recognise the results of the elections,” said Anna German, deputy chairwoman of Yanukovych’s Party of Regions.

Around 5,000 supporters of Yanukovych assembled yesterday near a stage in Kiev adorned with the slogan Ukrainians for a Fair Election. Hundreds waved Yanukovych’s blue campaign pennants and some draped flags over their shoulders, readily admitting they were there to forestall attempts by the Tymoshenko camp to organise large-scale protests.

But analysts said it was too early to write her off. “Yanukovych has won, but he is not victorious,” said Vadim Karasyov, director of the Global Strategies Institute in Kiev. “The narrow gap between them will tie Yanukovych’s hands... She will fight to keep the post of prime minister.”

Tymoshenko and outgoing president Viktor Yushchenko fell out after leading the Orange Revolution protests in 2004, and the bad blood between them has caused political gridlock in recent years and deepened Ukraine’s economic malaise.

Most voters are now keen to see a united leadership take power.